13 Actionable Steps to Increase Mobile App Downloads

So you have just implemented your favorite idea, published confidently on play store after testing on every device. You have tried everything to promote the app on possible social sites.

Next day you are eager to check out how many people have downloaded your app and it says “10 downloads” and not a single review blinking. Your confidence with your app says surely there will be something wrong in promotion may you were not that promising in a promotion, so you start various ways to promote it. Still, you are at 400 downloads at the end of the month. Not to worry there are many who grow downloads surprisingly even after facing this type of condition.

After the deep survey, we are here with few tricks that did wander with their growth in downloads.

Stunning App Icon

The very first thing appears on the app store is the icon of the app, so the design you choose should be unique, eye-catching and recognizable. The icon should clearly represent the app. Avoid playing with icons, try to make an icon as straight and as clean as possible.

Appropriate Name

Your app is going to be represented by its name. People are going to say “this thing is in my phone” the name is going to represent the app it must stay unique and classy.

3 things to be kept in mind:

* The name should not be copied, search all in deep and make sure that the name you chose is not already someone’s app name.
* The name should be very short and easy.
* The name should reflect your app behavior.

Play with Description

It is very important to describe the app clearly in the marketplace you are going to promote. Obviously, you want to spread your app globally. Where possible your description should be localized in most common languages. Many times some translations come up so weird, double check Google’s work.

Keywords

Allow your keywords to target the name of your app. Repeat the app name 2 to 3 times. Go on to the normal Adwords Keyword Tool to search for lateral keywords to be used. Keywords will increase your app’s chance to get into search results.

Explaining video

The video for an app is not a part to be neglected. It’s important to make the video catchy. For that, you can hire professionals and a voice talent to give voice to your video. Make sure your video is translated into local languages.

Other ways

It is of no doubt, traffic can rush if your app is on the top list. Developers go extreme to make their app highlighted on the top list. One tactic to be tried out is CPI (Cost-Per-Install) campaign via different advertisers.

A Certain amount of money need to be paid for each install, you can expect to make a positive return on your money, this will possibly drive your app in the list of top apps.

There are a number of add networks offering CPI campaign. You can try in one of them.

Eyes on User

Analytic play an important role in knowing improvement and diminishment of the app. Analytics allows continuous comparison for the behavior of new strategies.

There are few tools that will help in accurate analysis.

* Google’s Universal Analytics
* Flurry Analytics
* County

Cover Image

After working so much on development and promotion, you forget to give importance to the cover image for an app. Don’t make the mistake, A cover image can boost user downloads. Make it unique, catchy and simple. Remember do not use the screenshot for your cover image, it will create a bad impression.

Connect with Screenshots

Screenshots you add of your app should be professional and neat. Add quality images connect with a real person for instance if your app is for youths, show a girl/boy using the app. Make sure the app is clearly seen. The idea to add screenshots is for the user to see the app in action. It is preferable to add 3 to 6 screenshots. Every screenshot should contain different features of an app.

Short Term Discounts

You can offer your app free for short duration. After medium sized users are already in place you can start charging. The effects will be mind blowing.

Engage your community

It may look simple, but engaging your community with appropriate articles and posts will give a big noticeable boost in the app downloads. Social channels advertising will raise your chances to be noticed. Try on different communities to increase the download.

Regular Updates

Try out ways to improve the app with new features. This will keep the users stick with the app. There are cases after few months of installing the app they get bored with the same look and same features, so they uninstall the app. Updates should be occurring at least once a month to improve the usability.

Encourage Reviews

Positive reviews influence people, declaring it a valuable download, customer satisfaction is incredibly important to ranking. Testimonials represent that this app is worth downloading. Never add fake reviews to increase the number of reviews you will end up having your app suspended. There are few ways to get audience leave reviews. It is not necessary you will get a review if you don’t ask for it. You can add a prompt that reminds the user to rate and review.

* Plan the Timing

You cannot irritate the user with pop-ups at every 5 seconds. Take the time to strategically plan when you want the pop-up to appear. Try to present the review option after they complete a task.

Final Note:

Generating downloads for an app is not always the easiest thing. People often get discouraged with their new ideas looking at the total downloads. But if you use and practice these tips, you will see a sudden growth in downloads.

Your first priority should always be audience preferences while trying new strategies then you will always stay high in the app store rankings.